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Top 14 science fiction books for younger teens (12 and up)

These are the novels teens pass around: dystopias, space war and classics by Wells and Bradbury. Several are violent or have mature themes, so each pick is flagged. Younger readers may want to start with the 9-12 list first.

Titles were chosen from award winners, ALSC notable lists and long-running library favorites, then each title and author was checked against Open Library in Oct 2026. Checked 2026-10-25. Nobody paid to be here. The buy links are plain search links, not affiliate links, so Peabody earns nothing from them.

  1. Ender's Game

    Orson Scott Card · Ages 12-17

    Six-year-old Ender is trained as a space commander in a war against aliens. Hugo and Nebula winner.

    Watch for: Violence against children; author's views are controversial.

    Buy: Bookshop.org · Amazon

  2. The Hunger Games

    Suzanne Collins · Ages 12-17

    Katniss volunteers for a televised fight to the death. Fast and gripping.

    Watch for: Children kill children; violence throughout.

    Buy: Bookshop.org · Amazon

  3. The House of the Scorpion

    Nancy Farmer · Ages 12-16

    Matt is a clone of a drug lord in a near-future borderland. 2003 Newbery Honor and 2002 National Book Award winner for Young People's Literature.

    Watch for: Drug trade, torture, death.

    Buy: Bookshop.org · Amazon

  4. Uglies

    Scott Westerfeld · Ages 12-16

    At sixteen everyone gets an operation to become pretty, and Tally learns the cost. First of four.

    Watch for: Some body-image and political themes.

    Buy: Bookshop.org · Amazon

  5. Skyward

    Brandon Sanderson · Ages 12-17

    Spensa wants to be a pilot to clear the name of her father. Action and strong worldbuilding.

    Watch for: War deaths.

    Buy: Bookshop.org · Amazon

  6. Illuminae

    Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff · Ages 14-17

    A war on a distant planet told in documents, logs and chat messages. Visually inventive.

    Watch for: Frequent profanity and violence.

    Buy: Bookshop.org · Amazon

  7. Scythe

    Neal Shusterman · Ages 13-17

    In a world without death, scythes are chosen to kill. Thoughtful and dark.

    Watch for: Death is the subject.

    Buy: Bookshop.org · Amazon

  8. Fahrenheit 451

    Ray Bradbury · Ages 13+

    A fireman who burns books starts to read them. Short and widely taught.

    Watch for: Brief suicide scene.

    Buy: Bookshop.org · Amazon

  9. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

    Douglas Adams · Ages 12+

    Arthur Dent escapes the destruction of Earth with an alien friend. Very funny.

    Watch for: Mild adult humor.

    Buy: Bookshop.org · Amazon

  10. Feed

    M. T. Anderson · Ages 14+

    Teens have internet implants in their brains. A satire and a love story.

    Watch for: Strong language and sexual references.

    Buy: Bookshop.org · Amazon

  11. The Maze Runner

    James Dashner · Ages 12-16

    Thomas wakes in a glade surrounded by a deadly maze. Action-heavy, first of a series.

    Watch for: Violence and deaths.

    Buy: Bookshop.org · Amazon

  12. Legend

    Marie Lu · Ages 12-16

    A teen criminal and a young prodigy of the military cross paths in a divided Los Angeles.

    Watch for: Violence.

    Buy: Bookshop.org · Amazon

  13. The Time Machine

    H. G. Wells · Ages 12+

    A traveler goes to the year 802,701. Short and the origin of the time-travel story.

    Watch for: Victorian class views.

    Buy: Bookshop.org · Amazon

  14. The Martian

    Andy Weir · Ages 14+

    An astronaut stranded on Mars grows food and fixes machines to survive. Written for adults, loved by teens who like science.

    Watch for: Heavy profanity.

    Buy: Bookshop.org · Amazon

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